This website makes references to a number of terms that may not be familiar to you. Use the links below to explore this glossary.
Saltbox Roof
double-sloping roof with the longer and lower slope to the rear of the building
Sash
framework that holds a piece of glass or several small pieces of glass
Scale
relation of the various parts of a building to the whole, to each other, to the surroundings and to the human figure
Second Empire (1880 - 1890)
The Second Empire style takes its name from the French Second Empire and the reign of Napoleon III (1852 - 1870). The style's most distinguished feature is a mansard roof, the steep lower section of which is normally interrupted with dormers. Doors and windows are often round-headed and grouped in pairs. Decorative detailing can include brackets under the eaves and quoins at the corners.
Segmental Arch
arch in the shape of a segment of a circle
Setback
recessed upper section of a building
Shaft
body of the column between the base and the capital
Sheathing
exterior cladding of a building
Shed Roof
roof sloping to only one side
Shingle
wood or asphalt tile for covering roofs and walls
Shingle Style (1880 - 1900)
The Shingle Style originated in New England and is associated with imposing, two or three storey, asymmetrical residential structures. The roof and walls are covered with unpainted wood shingles. Large, sweeping roof areas tend to flow into one another, sometimes extending across several stories.
Shutter
hinged panel used to cover and protect a window opening
Sidelight
window located at the side of door
Sill
horizontal piece forming the bottom of a window or door opening
Skylight
window covering an opening in a roof
Solarium
terrace or room enclosed in glass and exposed to the sun
Spandrel
panels with windows above and below, spanning between vertical support posts or mullions
Spindle
lathe-turned wood elements, often used as balusters and porch decoration
Spire
tall, narrow, steep roof structure ending in a point, rising from a tower or roof peak
Stained Glass
colored glass used in windows, often set in leadwork
Steeple
tall tower with a spire
Stepped Gable
gable that diminishes in width by a series of steps
Storey
habitable space between a floor and a ceiling, floor or roof above; may not include basements and attics due to the local building ordinances; if habitable, attics are usually considered a half or three-quarter storey due to reduced headroom under the roof slopes
String Course
moulding or projecting course of stone or brick, running horizontally across the face of a building
Structural Overhang
projecting upper storeys, usually supported by cantilevers or brackets
Stucco
heavy coating of a cement, lime, sand and water mixture applied to a wall surface as its exterior finish
Surround
trim around a door or window opening
Symmetrical/Symmetry
compositional balance with respect to a point of reference such as an imaginary centre-line, as it is drawn through the plan or facade